# Is it true that if you jump on an airplane you'll die? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157 "2011-01-02T18:58:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/21 "2011-01-02T20:37:34Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > I’ll take New Year Newbie Nyuck, Nyuck for $200, Alex. Wrong New Year, Ducks - it’s 2011 now… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/22 "2011-01-02T21:11:43Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > If you jump at the front of the plane, the plane will keep moving but you won’t, and you’ll splatter on the back wall. DO NOT DO IT. True, but if you are trapped in a free-falling elevator, remember to jump JUST BEFORE IT HITS THE GROUND. And also don’t feed the trolls. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/23 "2011-01-02T21:35:34Z")
Yup, you will die. Just like when you jump up in the air, but the Earth keeps spinning at 500-1000mph under your feet and next thing you know you’re slammed into a building in the next county. Or god help you if you jump at just the point where the Earth is moving in the opposite direction in it’s orbit around the Sun. You’ll find yourself rocketting into space at about 30 kilometers per second! ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/24 "2011-01-02T21:43:01Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > If you jump at the front of the plane, the plane will keep moving but you won’t, and you’ll splatter on the back wall. DO NOT DO IT. If this were the case, how do you even get out of your seat? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/25 "2011-01-02T21:45:59Z")
How would they even pour your coffee? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/26 "2011-01-02T22:01:38Z")
It would be a cool way to commit suicide, though. 1)Buy airplane ticket and get on board 2)Jump 3)Splat! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/27 "2011-01-02T22:08:33Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Wrong New Year, Ducks - it’s 2011 now… 😉 It’s **PSXer** ’s one year anniversary on the boards, to the day. Still a newbie. That’s my excuses and I’m sticking to it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![iamnotbatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@iamnotbatman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamnotbatman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/28 "2011-01-02T22:13:01Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > I heard someone on telly say they thought the best way to survive a plane crash would be to do a jump just before the plane crashed into the ground, thus avoiding the impact. The secret, of course, was to jump at juuuust the right time… And to jump at 500 mph while covered in 5 inches of kevlar and a ton of fire retardant and a supply of oxygen… ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/29 "2011-01-02T22:30:01Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Um, not that, either. The splat comes when you land, not when you jump. [Not always](http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/safety/4344036), amazingly enough. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/30 "2011-01-02T22:32:37Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > [Not always](http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/safety/4344036), amazingly enough. I thought this was going to be a link to somebody splatting in midair. I was very disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/31 "2011-01-02T22:37:52Z")
I was on a plane yesterday. I jumped and was only mildly injured. So the answer to the question is no. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/32 "2011-01-02T22:40:38Z")
I’m willing to be daring and try the experiment. I’m in the JetBlue terminal right now and will be in flight in a couple of hours. I’m willing to take the chance, but because I’m shy, I’ll do the jumping in the bathroom. So if you hear about someone dying in a JetBlue bathroom, you’ll know I didn’t make it. Otherwise, I’ll report back here when I land. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/33 "2011-01-02T22:44:54Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m willing to be daring and try the experiment. I’m in the JetBlue terminal right now and will be in flight in a couple of hours. I’m willing to take the chance, but because I’m shy, I’ll do the jumping in the bathroom. So if you hear about someone dying in a JetBlue bathroom, you’ll know I didn’t make it. Otherwise, I’ll report back here when I land. I think I speak for everybody when I say that we salute your bravery. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/34 "2011-01-02T22:46:42Z")
This is how I lost my hand. They said “Dervorin, will you please make yourself known to a member of the staff” and I raised my right hand, and it flew off and spattered on the back wall. It was a horrible mess, really. I just hope it doesn’t happen again, or I’ll be handless. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/35 "2011-01-02T23:03:24Z")
I think that if you were standing on top of the plane and jumped, you would have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/36 "2011-01-02T23:10:18Z")
If the plane is accelerating then you will move backwards at the speed the plane accelerates forward above the speed when you leave your seat. So yes, you will be plastered at the back of the plane but it would be more like a bowling ball going down the isle unless it’s a private jet that points straight up off the deck. It’s no different than standing in a van when the driver hits the gas pedal. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/37 "2011-01-02T23:25:41Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > True, but if you are trapped in a free-falling elevator, remember to jump JUST BEFORE IT HITS THE GROUND. > > And also don’t feed the trolls. Problem is free fall elevators fall up not down. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/38 "2011-01-02T23:27:08Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Yup, you will die. > > Just like when you jump up in the air, but the Earth keeps spinning at 500-1000mph under your feet and next thing you know you’re slammed into a building in the next county. > > Or god help you if you jump at just the point where the Earth is moving in the opposite direction in it’s orbit around the Sun. You’ll find yourself rocketting into space at about 30 kilometers per second! Don’t forget the umpty-ump kilometers per second that the solar system is moving around the galaxy! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/39 "2011-01-02T23:49:13Z")
I never jump on airplanes, but this sure explains why I’m such a mess when I get off, especially if I’m sitting near the back where I end up with 26 rows of salt, pepper, wine, water, coffee and vomit all over me. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157/40 "2011-01-03T00:32:52Z")
In all seriousness though, modern jet aircraft are fitted with artificial gravity devices. How else do you think you could travel at hundreds of miles per hour without any _g-force_? And, as further proof, think what happens in films when a window gets broken. Everything inside gets thrown towards the hole, right? That’s because the containment field has been broken, and the hole has become the new “down”. You’re welcome. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-if-you-jump-on-an-airplane-youll-die/566157.md?page=3)